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CITY COUNCIL - LA City Budget and Finance Committee (BFC)---on May 16, District-5 Councilwoman, BFC Chair Katy Yaroslavsky’s opening words were, “We asked our CLA [Chief Legislative Analyst] Sharon Tso to take a different approach. We will focus on preserving core city services, look for new revenue in ways to save positions … for the departments to still be able do the work our constituents need them to do.”
Under the watch of the CLA and her team---the BFC approved the Bureau of Street Services (StreetsLA) restoration of a safety-risk manager position as requested by Keith Mozee, the Executive Director/General Manager of StreetsLA. The Bureau identified alternative sources of funding from its accounts to pay for the full salary cost of this role. The risk manager will work with other Bureau managers who oversee a workforce of 1,100 personnel. General manager Mozee stated that the high-risk manager role, requiring experience in industrial hygiene, and will be involved in vehicle training and licensing along with the processing of documentation for the high hazardous division in the construction and manufacturing of asphalt.
In addition, Mr. Mozee called for a second request for StreetsLA, “to bring back 46 positions from the Bureau of Engineering to start immediately on street work. “This service will cost $13 million,” he said. “The crews need to be funded before they can start the work.”
Photos of central LA City residential streets taken on May 12, 2025.
The BFC adopted the motion to restore $5.5 Million from Measure R to hire a portion of the personnel needed. Measure R was approved in 2008 by a two-thirds majority of LA County voters, a half-cent sales tax increase on each dollar of taxable sales. The Measure contains an expenditure plan with seven categories, one is 20% to carpool lanes, highways and other highway related improvements, per Metro.net. It seems that the CAO Analyst needs to review the Measure R Expenditure Plan from a realistic need since re-surfacing is drastically needed in our communities. “LA City Streets are rundown and crumbling in most parts of the city while the 6th street bridge downtown, a-capital project is not traveled as much as other streets, so its function is minimal,” said John Wise, an artist who lives in the Arts District DTLA.
On May 16, 2025, the BFC approved the following Motions with explicit Instructions, requesting that several departments report back to the committee on specified dates to identify funds for restoring positions. These instructions aim to streamline the process of allocating resources for personnel costs across the departments.
- The mayor submitted a proposal to consolidate the Economic and workforce development Department (EWDD), Community Investment for Families (CFID), and Youth Development Department (YDD). Abigail Marquez, General Manager of CFID, is to return with a report involving a consolidation plan of action by June 15, 2025, on how the departments will operate. “So, we can have it by the time the Council returns from recess,” said District 1 Councilwoman Hernandez. Meanwhile, Ms. Marquez requested guidance and clear directions including hearing from adult stakeholders, besides having heard from the youth during public comment. “No savings were assumed in the mayor’s proposal,” announced the CLA Sharon Tsu to the BFC.
- Certain departments were given a due date of up to August 1, 2025 for submitting their reports. “This gives the departments enough time to talk about consolidations. All of the departments are going through the process of potential consolidation to eliminate duplication of services,” said Councilwoman Hernandez.
- The City Administrator Officer (CAO) Mathew Szabo is to report back, first and foremost, before issuing the first-quarter Financial Status Report (FSR).
- The CLA is to report -- on what City positions were not funded after the proposed Budget balance was amended and approved on May 16-- before the Council’s final adoption of the budget report, CD5 Councilwoman Yaroslovsky.
- The Office of Finance is to conduct an analysis of the City investment portfolio and monthly reports identifying funds for possible loan pay off, and/ or use for general subsidies, including any potential reallocations and interests in the general fund, said CD15, Councilmember McKosker. He asked for guidance, procedure and protocol with a report back date before the posting of the first FSR.
- The CLA, at no cost, is to conduct a special study identifying all the programs within the City “that we provide services to, that other jurisdictions should be doing, such as the LA County, the school board, philanthropy,” emphasized CD3 Councilmember Bloomenfield.
- The Fire Department, CLA, and CAO are to identify potential organizational changes that could create efficiencies in the Fire Department “such as staffing the 200 fire engine series with 4 staff instead of 5 firefighters,” advised McKosker.
Photo of a dilapidated section of Westlake Avenue off Wilshire Blvd.
Throughout the Budget and Finance Committee, Budget Hearings of May 16, 2025, the Committee of councilmembers were focused and actively engaged in finding funds to reduce the potential number of layoffs. “We will do our best to get the numbers below 500,” said Yaroslovsky. In addition, the city departments’ general managers were present and provided clarity and depth to the conversation regarding the struggles with funding for their departments.
(Connie Acosta is an elected board member of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council System and a regular contributor to CityWatch.)
